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I think we can safely use this reference, it says "all 12 district municipalities" on April 17, 1879, and then "Since then, none of these boundaries has been changed to any significant degree"
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|scope="row"| [[Lunenburg, Nova Scotia (municipal district)|Lunenburg]]</onlyinclude> || District municipality<onlyinclude> ||align=center| {{dts|April 17, 1879}} || {{change|25118|25164|dec=1|align=center|invert=on}} ||align=center| {{nts|1759.64}} ||align=center| {{Pop density|25118|1759.64|km2|prec=1}}
|scope="row"| [[Lunenburg, Nova Scotia (municipal district)|Lunenburg]]</onlyinclude> || District municipality<onlyinclude> ||align=center| {{dts|April 17, 1879}} || {{change|25118|25164|dec=1|align=center|invert=on}} ||align=center| {{nts|1759.64}} ||align=center| {{Pop density|25118|1759.64|km2|prec=1}}
|-
|-
|scope="row"| [[Shelburne, Nova Scotia (municipal district)|Shelburne]]</onlyinclude> || District municipality<onlyinclude> ||align=center| {{#tag:ref|The Municipality of the District of Shelburne, the Municipality of the District of Yarmouth and the Town of Berwick do not have their incorporated dates listed at the same source of the incorporation dates for other municipalities.<ref name=incorporations/>|name=missingdates|group=lower-alpha}}<!--{{dts|}}not listed at source for some reason, though the County of Yarmouth is shown to have incorporated on April 17, 1879--> || {{change|4408|4828|dec=1|align=center|invert=on}} ||align=center| {{nts|1818.49}} ||align=center| {{Pop density|4408|1818.49|km2|prec=1}}
|scope="row"| [[Shelburne, Nova Scotia (municipal district)|Shelburne]]</onlyinclude> || District municipality<onlyinclude> ||align=center| {{dts|April 17, 1879}}<ref name=RuralMuniGovt/> || {{change|4408|4828|dec=1|align=center|invert=on}} ||align=center| {{nts|1818.49}} ||align=center| {{Pop density|4408|1818.49|km2|prec=1}}
|-
|-
|scope="row"| [[St. Mary's, Nova Scotia|St. Mary's]]</onlyinclude> || District municipality<onlyinclude> ||align=center| {{dts|April 17, 1879}} || {{change|2354|2587|dec=1|align=center|invert=on}} ||align=center| {{nts|1909.59}} ||align=center| {{Pop density|2354|1909.59|km2|prec=1}}
|scope="row"| [[St. Mary's, Nova Scotia|St. Mary's]]</onlyinclude> || District municipality<onlyinclude> ||align=center| {{dts|April 17, 1879}} || {{change|2354|2587|dec=1|align=center|invert=on}} ||align=center| {{nts|1909.59}} ||align=center| {{Pop density|2354|1909.59|km2|prec=1}}
Line 99: Line 99:
|scope="row"| [[West Hants, Nova Scotia|West Hants]]{{#tag:ref|Population and land area figures those associated with the dissolved [[Hantsport, Nova Scotia|Town of Hantsport]].<ref name=2011StatCanNS/>|group=lower-alpha}}</onlyinclude> || District municipality<onlyinclude> ||align=center| {{dts|April 17, 1879}} || {{change|{{#expr:14165+1159}}|{{#expr:13871+1191}}|dec=1|align=center|invert=on}} ||align=center| {{nts|{{round|{{#expr:1241.9459+2.128}}|2}}}} ||align=center| {{Pop density|{{#expr:14165+1159}}|{{#expr:1241.9459+2.128}}|km2|prec=1}}
|scope="row"| [[West Hants, Nova Scotia|West Hants]]{{#tag:ref|Population and land area figures those associated with the dissolved [[Hantsport, Nova Scotia|Town of Hantsport]].<ref name=2011StatCanNS/>|group=lower-alpha}}</onlyinclude> || District municipality<onlyinclude> ||align=center| {{dts|April 17, 1879}} || {{change|{{#expr:14165+1159}}|{{#expr:13871+1191}}|dec=1|align=center|invert=on}} ||align=center| {{nts|{{round|{{#expr:1241.9459+2.128}}|2}}}} ||align=center| {{Pop density|{{#expr:14165+1159}}|{{#expr:1241.9459+2.128}}|km2|prec=1}}
|-
|-
|scope="row"| [[Yarmouth, Nova Scotia (municipal district)|Yarmouth]]</onlyinclude> || District municipality<onlyinclude> ||align=center| <ref group=lower-alpha name=missingdates/><!--{{dts|}}not listed at source for some reason, though the County of Yarmouth is shown to have incorporated on April 17, 1879--> || {{change|10105|10304|dec=1|align=center|invert=on}} ||align=center| {{nts|585.75}} ||align=center| {{Pop density|10105|585.75|km2|prec=1}}</onlyinclude>
|scope="row"| [[Yarmouth, Nova Scotia (municipal district)|Yarmouth]]</onlyinclude> || District municipality<onlyinclude> ||align=center| {{dts|April 17, 1879}}<ref name=RuralMuniGovt/> || {{change|10105|10304|dec=1|align=center|invert=on}} ||align=center| {{nts|585.75}} ||align=center| {{Pop density|10105|585.75|km2|prec=1}}</onlyinclude>
|-
|-
|scope="row"| [[Amherst, Nova Scotia|Amherst]] || Town ||align=center| {{dts|December 18, 1899}} || {{change|9717|9505|dec=1|align=center|invert=on}} ||align=center| {{nts|12.02}} ||align=center| {{Pop density|9717|12.02|km2|prec=1}}
|scope="row"| [[Amherst, Nova Scotia|Amherst]] || Town ||align=center| {{dts|December 18, 1899}} || {{change|9717|9505|dec=1|align=center|invert=on}} ||align=center| {{nts|12.02}} ||align=center| {{Pop density|9717|12.02|km2|prec=1}}

Revision as of 17:44, 2 January 2017

Map of Canada with Nova Scotia highlighted in red
Location of Nova Scotia in Canada
Map showing locations of all of Nova Scotia's municipalities
Distribution of Nova Scotia's 50 municipalities by municipal status type

Nova Scotia is the seventh-most populous province in Canada with 921,727 residents as of 2011. It is the second-smallest province in land area at approximately 53,000 km2 (20,000 sq mi).[1] Nova Scotia's 50 municipalities cover 99.8% of the territory's land mass, and are home to 99.0% of its population.[2][a]

Unlike the provinces of British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec, which have two-tiered municipality systems, Nova Scotia has a one-tier system of municipalities[3] inclusive of four municipality types – regional municipalities, towns, county municipalities and district municipalities.[4] Regional municipalities may incorporate under the Municipal Government Act (MGA) of 1998, which came into force on April 1, 1999,[5] while towns, county municipalities and district municipalities are continued as municipalities under the MGA.[6] The MGA gives municipal councils the power to make bylaws for "health, well being, safety and protection of persons" and "safety and protection of property" in addition to a few expressed powers.[7]

Nova Scotia has 3 regional municipalities, 26 towns, 9 county municipalities and 12 district municipalities.[4] Halifax, the provincial capital, is incorporated as a regional municipality. It is Nova Scotia's largest municipality by population with 390,096 residents as of the 2011 census and largest municipality by land area at 5,490.28 km2 (2,119.81 sq mi).[2]

Municipalities

Regional municipalities

Regional municipalities are incorporated under the authority of section 372 of Nova Scotia's Municipal Government Act. To consider the incorporation of a regional municipality, the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board (NSUARB) must receive a request from all municipalities within a county. If the request is unanimous, the NSUARB commissions the preparation of a study to determine if the incorporation of "a regional municipality would be in the interests of the people of the county." Nova Scotia's Governor in Council can order the incorporation of a regional municipality if the results of the study are deemed to be in the best interests of the people, and if a plebiscite is undertaken that results in the majority of electors in the county voting in favour of incorporation of a regional municipality.[6]

Nova Scotia has three regional municipalities. The largest regional municipality by population is Halifax, which is the capital and largest municipality of Nova Scotia by population. Halifax's 390,096 residents represent 42% of the total population of the province. Halifax is also the largest municipality by land area at 5,490.28 km2 (2,119.81 sq mi). The Region of Queens Municipality is Nova Scotia's smallest regional municipality both by population and land area at 10,917 residents and 2,392.85 km2 (923.88 sq mi) respectively.[2]

Rural municipalities

A rural municipality in Nova Scotia provides local government for rural areas outside of incorporated towns.[8] Rural municipalities were established in 1879 and are inclusive of county municipalities and district municipalities.[8]

County municipalities

Map showing locations of Nova Scotia's historical counties
Distribution of Nova Scotia's 18 historical counties by municipal status
See also: List of counties of Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia has a historical system 18 counties.[9] Prior to the establishment of rural municipalities in 1879, local government was administered by appointed courts of sessions.[8] On April 17, 1879, the original non-elected courts of sessions were abolished in favour of elected councils when The County Incorporation Act came into force.[8] As a result, 12 county municipalities were established.[8] Today, 9 of the original 12 remain incorporated as county municipalities, with 3 eventually becoming regional municipalities in the mid-1990s.[10] County municipalities provide local government to the residents of their historical counties living outside of incorporated towns.[8] Most recently, Nova Scotia's 9 county municipalities have been continued as county municipalities under the authority of the Municipal Government Act of 1998.[6]

Nova Scotia's largest county municipality by population is the Municipality of the County of Kings at 47,569 residents, while the largest by land area is the Municipality of the County of Cumberland at 4,234.99 km2 (1,635.14 sq mi). The Municipality of the County of Victoria is the least populated county municipality at a population of 6,597. The Municipality of the County of Richmond is Nova Scotia's smallest county municipality by land area at 1,238.64 km2 (478.24 sq mi).[2]

District municipalities

Prior to the establishment of elected rural local government in Nova Scotia, 6 of the historical counties were divided into districts for court sessional purposes.[8] On April 17, 1879, these 6 historical counties were established as 12 district municipalities, rather than county municipalities, based on their previous district divisions.[8] The district municipalities provide local government to the residents of the 6 historical counties living outside of incorporated towns.[8] Most recently, Nova Scotia's 12 district municipalities have been continued as district municipalities under the authority of the Municipal Government Act of 1998.[6]

Nova Scotia's largest and smallest district municipalities by population are Lunenburg and St. Mary's with 25,118 and 2,354 residents respectively.[2] Nova Scotia's largest district municipality by size is Guysborough which spans 2,111.42 km2 (815.22 sq mi) and the smallest by size is Yarmouth at 585.75 km2 (226.16 sq mi).[2]

Towns

Map showing locations of Nova Scotia's towns
Distribution of Nova Scotia's 26 towns by population
Main article: List of towns in Nova Scotia

Prior to mid-2015, towns were incorporated under the authority of sections 383 through 388 of Nova Scotia's Municipal Government Act (MGA).[11] To incorporate an area as a town, 100 electors within the area were required to prepare and submit an application to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board (NSUARB).[11] Upon receiving the application, the NSUARB would undertake a hearing to solicit input from interested parties and determine if there were reasonable grounds to incorporate as a town.[11] The NSUARB would issue an incorporation order if the application was deemed reasonable.[11] On May 11, 2015, sections 383 through 388 of the MGA were repealed, thereby preventing further incorporations of towns.[12]

Nova Scotia had 31 towns at the time of the 2011 census.[2] This total has since been reduced to 26 due to the dissolution of the towns of Bridgetown, Canso, Hantsport, Parrsboro and Springhill.[13][14] In the 2011 census, the remaining 26 towns had a cumulative population of 99,283 and an average population of 3,819. Nova Scotia's largest and smallest towns by population are Truro and Annapolis Royal with 12,059 and 481 residents respectively.[2] These two towns are also Nova Scotia's largest and smallest by land area at 37.63 km2 (14.53 sq mi) and 2.04 km2 (0.79 sq mi) respectively.[2]

List of municipalities

  • Skyline of Halifax
    Halifax is Nova Scotia's capital and largest municipality by population.
  • Louisbourg harbour
    Harbour of Louisbourg in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia's second-most populated municipality
  • Eastern Kings County
    Kings County is Nova Scotia's largest county municipality.
Name Municipal type Incorporation
date[15] 		Population
(2011)[2] 		Population
(2006)[2] 		Change
[2] 		Land area
(km²)[2] 		Population
density[2]
Cape Breton Regional municipality August 1, 1995 97,398 102,250 −4.7% 2,433.35 40.0/km2
Halifax Regional municipality April 1, 1996 390,096 372,679 +4.7% 5,490.28 71.1/km2
Queens Regional municipality April 1, 1996 10,917 11,177 −2.3% 2,392.85 4.6/km2
Annapolis[b] County municipality April 17, 1879 18,526 19,113 −3.1% 3,177.67 5.8/km2
Antigonish[c] County municipality April 17, 1879 14,692 14,239 +3.2% 1,449.95 10.1/km2
Colchester[d] County municipality April 17, 1879 36,624 36,134 +1.4% 3,569.10 10.3/km2
Cumberland[e] County municipality April 17, 1879 20,485 21,363 −4.1% 4,249.87 4.8/km2
Inverness[f] County municipality April 17, 1879 13,781 14,896 −7.5% 3,814.93 3.6/km2
Kings[g] County municipality April 17, 1879 47,569 47,814 −0.5% 2,093.45 22.7/km2
Pictou[h] County municipality April 17, 1879 21,278 21,553 −1.3% 2,796.59 7.6/km2
Richmond[i] County municipality April 17, 1879 8,812 9,296 −5.2% 1,238.64 7.1/km2
Victoria[j] County municipality April 17, 1879 6,597 7,186 −8.2% 2,867.14 2.3/km2
Argyle District municipality April 17, 1879 8,252 8,656 −4.7% 1,528.01 5.4/km2
Barrington District municipality April 17, 1879 6,994 7,331 −4.6% 631.94 11.1/km2
Chester District municipality April 17, 1879 10,599 10,741 −1.3% 1,122.22 9.4/km2
Clare District municipality April 17, 1879 8,319 8,813 −5.6% 852.82 9.8/km2
Digby District municipality April 17, 1879 7,463 7,986 −6.5% 1,655.88 4.5/km2
East Hants District municipality April 17, 1879 22,111 21,397 +3.3% 1,786.47 12.4/km2
Guysborough[k] District municipality April 17, 1879 4,995 5,592 −10.7% 2,116.84 2.4/km2
Lunenburg District municipality April 17, 1879 25,118 25,164 −0.2% 1,759.64 14.3/km2
Shelburne District municipality April 17, 1879[8] 4,408 4,828 −8.7% 1,818.49 2.4/km2
St. Mary's District municipality April 17, 1879 2,354 2,587 −9.0% 1,909.59 1.2/km2
West Hants[l] District municipality April 17, 1879 15,324 15,062 +1.7% 1,244.07 12.3/km2
Yarmouth District municipality April 17, 1879[8] 10,105 10,304 −1.9% 585.75 17.3/km2
Amherst Town December 18, 1899 9,717 9,505 +2.2% 12.02 808.4/km2
Annapolis Royal Town November 29, 1892 481 444 +8.3% 2.04 235.8/km2
Antigonish Town January 9, 1899 4,524 4,236 +6.8% 5.15 878.4/km2
Berwick Town [m] 2,454 2,454 0.0% 6.66 368.5/km2
Bridgewater Town February 13, 1899 8,241 7,944 +3.7% 13.60 606.0/km2
Clark's Harbour Town March 4, 1919 820 860 −4.7% 2.90 282.8/km2
Digby Town December 18, 1890 2,152 2,092 +2.9% 3.14 685.4/km2
Kentville Town May 1, 1886 6,094 5,815 +4.8% 17.35 351.2/km2
Lockeport Town February 26, 1907 588 646 −9.0% 2.32 253.4/km2
Lunenburg Town October 29, 1888 2,313 2,317 −0.2% 4.01 576.8/km2
Mahone Bay Town March 31, 1919 943 904 +4.3% 3.13 301.3/km2
Middleton Town May 31, 1909 1,749 1,829 −4.4% 5.44 321.5/km2
Mulgrave Town December 1, 1923 794 879 −9.7% 17.81 44.6/km2
New Glasgow Town May 6, 1875 9,562 9,455 +1.1% 9.93 962.9/km2
Oxford Town April 19, 1904 1,151 1,178 −2.3% 10.76 107.0/km2
Pictou Town May 4, 1874 3,437 3,813 −9.9% 7.94 432.9/km2
Port Hawkesbury Town January 22, 1899 3,366 3,517 −4.3% 8.11 415.0/km2
Shelburne Town April 17, 1879 1,686 1,879 −10.3% 9.00 187.3/km2
Stellarton Town October 22, 1899 4,485 4,717 −4.9% 8.99 498.9/km2
Stewiacke Town August 30, 1906 1,438 1,421 +1.2% 17.67 81.4/km2
Trenton Town March 18, 1911 2,616 2,741 −4.6% 6.00 436.0/km2
Truro Town May 6, 1875 12,059 11,765 +2.5% 37.63 320.5/km2
Westville Town August 20, 1894 3,798 3,805 −0.2% 14.39 263.9/km2
Windsor Town April 4, 1878 3,785 3,709 +2.0% 9.06 417.8/km2
Wolfville Town March 4, 1893 4,269 3,772 +13.2% 6.45 661.9/km2
Yarmouth Town August 6, 1890 6,761 7,162 −5.6% 10.56 640.2/km2
Total regional municipalities — — 498,411 486,106 +2.5% 10,316.48 48.3/km2
Total county municipalities — — 188,364 191,594 −1.7% 25,257.34 7.5/km2
Total district municipalities — — 126,042 128,461 −1.9% 17,011.73 7.4/km2
Total towns — — 99,283 98,859 +0.4% 252.06 393.9/km2
Total municipalities — — 912,100 905,020 +0.8% 52,837.60 17.3/km2

Former municipalities

Nova Scotia has undergone reforms to local government in the last few decades, which has seen various municipalities amalgamate to form larger municipalities or dissolve into surrounding municipalities.

Amalgamations

The Municipality of the County of Cape Breton, the City of Sydney, and the towns of Dominion, Glace Bay, Louisbourg, New Waterford, North Sydney, and Sydney Mines dissolved and amalgamated on April 1, 1995 to form the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.[10] The City of Halifax along with the City of Dartmouth, the Town of Bedford and the Municipality of the County of Halifax also dissolved and amalgamated on April 1, 1996 to become the Halifax Regional Municipality.[10] Also on April 1, 1996, the Municipality of the County of Queens amalgamated with the Town of Liverpool to form the Region of Queens Municipality.[10]

Dissolutions

Five towns have dissolved since 2011 and are now under the jurisdiction of their adjacent rural municipalities. Canso dissolved on July 1, 2012 to become part of the Municipality of the District of Guysborough.[4] On April 1, 2015, Bridgetown and Springhill dissolved to become parts of the Municipality of the County of Annapolis and the Municipality of the County of Cumberland respectively.[4] Hantsport became part of the Municipality of the District of West Hants on July 1, 2015.[4] Most recently, Parrsboro dissolved to become part of the Municipality of the County of Cumberland on November 1, 2016.[14]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The remaining 1.0% of Nova Scotia's population resides on Indian reserves, which occupy the remaining 0.2% of the province's land mass.[2]
  2. ^ Population and land area figures derived from summing the census results for its four census subdivisions and the dissolved Town of Bridgetown.[2] Figures exclude any Indian reserves or the incorporated towns of Annapolis Royal and Middleton.
  3. ^ Population and land area figures derived from summing the census results for its two census subdivisions.[2] Figures exclude the incorporated town of Antigonish.
  4. ^ Population and land area figures derived from summing the census results for its three census subdivisions.[2] Figures exclude the incorporated towns of Stewiacke and Truro.
  5. ^ Population and land area figures derived from summing the census results for its four census subdivisions and the dissolved towns of Parrsboro and Springhill.[2] Figures exclude the incorporated towns of Amherst and Oxford.
  6. ^ Population and land area figures derived from summing the census results for its three census subdivisions.[2] Figures exclude the incorporated town of Port Hawkesbury.
  7. ^ Population and land area figures derived from summing the census results for its four census subdivisions.[2] Figures exclude the incorporated towns of Berwick, Kentville, and Wolfville.
  8. ^ Population and land area figures derived from summing the census results for its three census subdivisions.[2] Figures exclude the incorporated towns of New Glasgow, Pictou, Stellarton, Trenton, and Westville.
  9. ^ Population and land area figures derived from summing the census results for its three census subdivisions.[2]
  10. ^ Population and land area figures derived from summing the census results for its two census subdivisions.[2]
  11. ^ Population and land area figures those associated with the dissolved Town of Canso.[2]
  12. ^ Population and land area figures those associated with the dissolved Town of Hantsport.[2]
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference missingdates was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

References

  1. ^ "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, 2011 and 2006 censuses". Statistics Canada. January 13, 2014. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2011 and 2006 censuses (Nova Scotia)". Statistics Canada. December 18, 2012. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  3. ^ Gonzalo Pineros (2015). "Upper Tier and Lower Tier Municipality Integration to Collaboratively Address Population Growth, Aging Infrastructure and Climate Change" (PDF). McMaster University. p. 7. Retrieved December 28, 2016. The Canadian provinces of Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia have two-tier municipality systems.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Nova Scotia Annual Report of Municipal Statistics for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015" (PDF). Department of Municipal Affairs. 2015. p. 12. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  5. ^ "Municipal History Highlights". Province of Nova Scotia Department of Municipal Affairs. October 8, 2015. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  6. ^ a b c d "Municipal Government Act" (PDF). Office of the Legislative Counsel, Nova Scotia House of Assembly. June 19, 2012. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  7. ^ "Assessment of the Municipal Acts of the Provinces and Territories" (PDF). Federation of Canadian Municipalities. April 2004. p. 30. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "The Establishment of Elective Rural Municipal Government in Nova Scotia" (PDF). Government of Nova Scotia: Department of Municipal Affairs. pp. 1, 2. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  9. ^ "History of County Boundaries". Province of Nova Scotia: Department of Municipal Affairs. October 8, 2015. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  10. ^ a b c d "Nova Scotia Annual Report of Municipal Statistics for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014" (PDF). Department of Municipal Affairs. 2014. p. 12. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  11. ^ a b c d "Municipal Government Act, Part XVII: Municipal Incorporation". Office of the Legislative Counsel. April 22, 1999. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
  12. ^ "Bill No. 103: An Act to Amend Chapter 18 of the Acts of 1998, the Municipal Government Act" (PDF). Government of Nova Scotia. May 11, 2015. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
  13. ^ "Table 1: Nova Scotia, changes to Census Subdivisions in alphabetical order (with 8C & 9C) — Effective dates: From January 2nd, 2011 to January 1st, 2016". Statistics Canada. November 16, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
  14. ^ a b "Decision 2016 NSUARB 100 – M07110". Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board. June 15, 2016. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  15. ^ "Municipal Incorporation Timeline". Province of Nova Scotia. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
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